movie review by kristine

SYNOPSIS OF THE MOVIE

             Farhan Qureshi (R. Madhavan), Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi) and Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad "Rancho" (Aamir Khan) are three engineering students who share a room in the residence of Imperial College of Engineering (ICE). Farhan is studying engineering to pursue his father's wishes over his own wish — to become a wildlife photographer. Raju is studying to raise his family's fortunes and get them out of poverty. On the other hand, Rancho studies for his simple passion in machines and devices. Rancho believes that success in studying is not achieved by solely memorizing definitions given by textbooks or professors, but by understanding and applying the concepts. He believes that one should follow excellence, not success, as success will come itself if excellence is followed.

               However, this different approach is sneered upon by the faculties, including the dean of the college, Professor Viru "Virus" Sahastrabudhhe (Boman Irani). In contrast, Virus' favorite student, Chatur "Silencer" Ramalingam, (Omi Vaidya) believes in mindless memorizing over understanding, in order to reach his goals of corporate and social status. Meanwhile, Rancho falls in love with Virus' medical student daughter Pia (Kareena Kapoor) when he, Raju and Farhan accidentally crash her sister's wedding banquet to obtain a free meal, which infuriates Virus. Virus labels Rancho and his friends as "idiots" and continually attempts to break Rancho's friendship with Farhan and Raju.

              Things further escalate when the three friends drunkenly break into Virus's house one night to allow Rancho to confess his love to Pia, and urinate on the front door before fleeing. The next day, Virus threatens to rusticate Raju unless he squeals on Rancho. Not wanting to betray his friend or let down his family, Raju attempts suicide and ends up paralyzed. Following his recovery, Raju discards his fear of the future. Encouraged by Rancho, both Raju and Farhan gain courage to do what they were afraid to do before. Raju takes a frank approach in an interview for a corporate job, while Farhan convinces his parents to allow him to pursue his love of wildlife photography, both successful in their endeavors.

              When Virus discovers that Raju successfully obtained a job offer, he conspires to prevent him from getting the job by creating an exam paper so tough that will deliberately fail Raju. When Pia learns of his plan, she helps Rancho and Farhan by providing them with the keys to her father's office. However, Virus catches them and expels them on the spot. Pia angrily confronts him, revealing that his son, Pia's brother, committed suicide when he could not get into ICE, like Virus demanded, even though he had no interest in engineering and instead wished to be a writer.

                  At the same time, Pia's pregnant older sister Mona (Mona Singh) goes into labor. A heavy rainstorm cuts all power and floods the streets, making it impossible for the ambulance to reach Mona, and Pia is stuck at her hospital, where she had fled. Rancho, Farhan and Raju come to the rescue, along with other students from ICE. Over phone and webcam, Pia instructs Rancho to deliver the baby via VOIP. After the baby is apparently stillborn, Rancho resuscitates the baby by leading the students in saying "All is well". Virus reconciles with Rancho and his friends, and allows them to stay for their final exams.

                Their story is framed as intermittent flashbacks from the present day, ten years after Chatur bet that he'd become more successful than Rancho. Having lost contact with Rancho, who disappeared during the graduation party and went into seclusion, after five years, Raju and Farhan begin a journey to find him. They are joined by Chatur, now a wealthy and successful professional in the USA, who is looking to seal a deal with a famous scientist and prospective business associate named Phunsukh Wangdu. When they find Rancho's house in Shimla, they find a completely different man: the real Rancho (Jaaved Jaffrey).

           From him, they come to know that their friend was a destitute servant boy "Chhote" who loved learning, while he, the real Rancho, disliked study. After seeing the boy's intelligence, the family agreed to let the servant boy study in Rancho's place instead of laboring. In return, the real Rancho would pocket his qualifications and after graduating, the servant boy will cease all contact. The real Rancho reveals that Chhote is now a schoolteacher in Ladakh. At the same time, they find out that, without Rancho, Pia decided to marry the same price-obsessed banker that Rancho initially talked her into dumping, and they go to rescue her from the wedding.

                 Raju and Farhan find Pia and arrive at Rancho’s school. Pia and the fake Rancho rekindle their love, while Chatur mocks Rancho for becoming a lowly schoolteacher. He asks Rancho to sign a "Declaration of Defeat" document. When Rancho's friends ask what his real name is, he reveals that he is actually Phunsukh Wangdu himself. Chatur finds out about this and is horrified; he accepts his defeat and pleads his case with Phunsukh to establish the business relationship he was after.

 THE MOVIE REVIEW

I would like to say this is one of the movies that changed my life. I understand the true meaning of learning or knowledge by watching this movie. It can be said that this movie showed people how to think subjects or knowing in way we should gain knowledge not by memorising our subjects but to understand and love what our teachers or lecturer teaches us. This movie had the capability to change the views perception on education and the proper way to learn things and apply in our daily life.

Besides that, the director of this movie made us understand the heavy message he had in this movie in very comical and practical way by using the elements that are present in our daily life. The actors or the characters played by the actors each have a value or message to tell us. For example, the main character Aamir Khan as Ranchhoddas "Rancho" Shamaldas Chanchad / Phunsukh Wangdu. He is college student and a free thinking guy.

 His very brilliant and always says ‘all is well’ which he believes a way to make people confident and brave. Besides that, he thinks education is way to gain knowledge and people have to practise it in their daily life. He always has the eager to ask his lecturers question but they can’t answer it because he always thinks ‘out of box’.

Moreover, he saves the life of his principal’s daughter Mona and his grandson by creating a machine that helps her to give birth. He also helped his as Raju Rastogi by taking his dad to the hospital on time. He also changes the life of his two best friends and help them to pursuit their dreams. He was actually the son of a servant of a rich man in ooty, India.

Since, he was small he likes to learned and he will wear his boss’s son uniform and goes to school. One day, he was caught by one of the school teacher and he made an agreement with his boss that he will gain a degree in the name of this boss’s son Ranchhoddas Chanchad.

He went to college and completes his studies and gain a degree. On his graduation day, he went back without saying bye to his two best friends. After 10 years, his two best friends Raju Rastogi and Farhan. Qureshi and their found out that he became world famous scientist Phunsukh Wangdu. The movie brings a great message for society and mainly to young generation and to their parents and guardians.  In India there is a lot of pressure on student to become Engineer, Doctor.  All parents want their Teen to get good marks in school and then get admission in engineering, medicine and secure their future.  

 The movie brought a message that one should do the work they are passionate about.  The movie also gives message that student should not focus on just remembering books chapter but focus on getting practical knowledge.  The movie is eye opener for parents who are obsessed for making their kids engineer and doctors.  The movie is also guidance for teacher, professor and education system who are running a factory for producing engineers.

The most important message movie bring is - "All is well."  This is a main dialog that is used throughout of movie.  It tells audience that one should not panic in difficult circumstances and be optimistic. There are so many good things one can learn from this great movie.  However audience do not feel this is lecture.  The movie is full of entertainment.  The movie is about students of engineering and it has many scenes related to engineering college hostels. 

 The scenes are very entertaining and one can relate to what happens in hostels.  From ragging, romance, drinking, stealing upcoming exam paper, making fun of professor - all variety of scenes are these.  The scenes are written and directed very well.  The movie is full of fun.